Letter 4069: The question has arisen about the schedule on which the bishops of Sicily are to make their visits to Rome.

TO CYPRIAN THE DEACON. [Summary:] He so arranges that the bishops of Sicily, who once used to set out for Rome every third year, and now every fifth, may convene for the Festival of Saint Peter, in such a way that no suspicion may arise thence on the part of the praetor. He also is to admonish the bishops of Lipari and of Reggio. He is to console Libertinus. Gregory to Cyprian the deacon. Your Beloved Self knows that we once held this custom, that our brethren and fellow-bishops should convene at Rome from Sicily once in three years -- but that we, taking thought for their toil, established that they should present themselves here once in five years. But since it is now a long time that they have by no means convened here, we wish you to exhort them that they ought, with God conducting them, to celebrate here the Festival of Saint Peter together with us. But lest perchance some suspicion be able to arise on the praetor's part, if he should learn that they come here having been admonished, do you, understanding our will, so take care to do this of yourself, that they too, as we have said before, may come here at the appointed day, and that no suspicion concerning them may be possible on the praetor's part. The bishops of Lipari and of Reggio, moreover, you will likewise admonish to come here. Concerning Libertinus, however, that magnificent man, be solicitous, that no trickery may deceive him, since certain things have been written to us about the city of Ravenna, and we have sent that very letter to you, that from it you may be able to learn how you ought to conduct yourself toward him. Console him, moreover, that he afflict not himself, since we believe that our most excellent son the exarch will not grieve him. For we have not delayed to write concerning his person. But because the same exarch is occupied at the Po, we have by no means received his letters in reply. (Compare John the Deacon, book III, chapter 24.) [Editorial notes:] Letter 21 [otherwise 52, indiction 2]. -- In none of the manuscripts do we read this here. Letter 22 [otherwise 29]. -- From the 16th letter of Saint Leo, to the bishops of Sicily, the cause of this custom is gathered, namely that they were to take part in the council under the Roman pontiff, their metropolitan, by the force of the ancient canons, by which it had been decreed that synods were to be held every single year, so that, all things being treated in common, all the institutions and decrees of the canons might remain inviolate among all the Lord's priests. But Saint Leo wished that three should convene every single year. And so, if individual bishops went to Rome once every third year, it is plain that there were then nine bishops in Sicily. This custom, moreover, had lapsed, which he restores, the year being changed, the day being changed. See letter 1 of the first book. Letter 22 [otherwise 20]. -- In two Vatican [manuscripts] [...] OF SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT

AD CYPRIANUM DIACONUM. Sicilice episcopos olim terlio quoque anno, jam quinto Romam proficisci 80litos, ad Natale sancti Petri convenire sic procuret, ut inde nulla pretori oriae tur sn8picio. Moneat quoque Liparitanum et Regita- num episcopos. Libertinum consoletur. Gregorius Cypriano diacono. Novit dilectio tua hoc olim consueludinem te- nvisse, ut ſratres et coepiscopi nostri Romam GgG7 semel in triennio de Sicilia convenirent, - sed nos, eorum labori consulentes, conslituisse ut suam bue semel in quinquennio presentiam exbiberent. At quia jam diu est quod huc minime convenerunt, eos hortari te volumus ut Natale $ancti Petri hic, Deo perducente, nobiscum debeant celebrare. Sed ne Eersr. XXI [Al. 52, ind. 2]. — * Nullis in Mss. hc legimus. _ Eeisr. X XIL | Al. 29]. — * Ex epistola sancti Leo- nis 16, ad Sicilie episcopos, consuetudinis istius ha atque causa colligitur, scilicet ut interessent concilio sub Romano pontiſice metropolitano sno, ex priscorum canonum vi, quibus habendas singulis an- nis synodes fuerat decretum, ut commini tfractalu onnia ins!ilula canonumque decreta apud omnes Do- mins 8deerdotes inviolata permanerent. Volebat autem Sanctus Leo ternos singulis annis convenire. ltayue $i semel quolibet triennio Romam pergebant Singuli, novem tunc fuisse in Sicilia episcopos planum est. luterciderat 3utem isia conguetudo, quam reparat, dHilato anno, milata die. Vide epist. 1 libri primi. Eris. XXII [A 20]. — » In duobus Vaticanis SANCTI GREGORII MACNI A ſorte preztori aliqua possit nasci 8uspicio, $i c++» hue D admonitos venire cognoverit, voluntatem no-tram intelligens, ita boc ex le ſacere $lude, ut et ipsi, Sicut praediximus, ad diem conslitutum buc yeniant, et nulla de eis prztori possit esse Suspicio. Lipari- tanum vero et Regilanum episcopos, ut buc veniant pariter commonebis. | Circa Libertinum vero virum magnificum esto Sollicitus, ut nullus ilum dolus Gecipiat, quia ali- qua nobis de Ravennali urbe scripla sunl!, ipsamque ad te epistolam misimus, ut ex ea qualicer te erga eum debeas exhibere possis addiscere. Consolare autem eum, ut £e non aſſligat, quia credimus quod nos excellentissimus filius nosler exarchus non - Contristet. Nam de persona ipsius scribere non di- B stulimus. Sed quia in Pado idem exarchus occupa- tus est, minime scripta ejus Suscepimus. (Cf. Joan. Diac. l. mi; n. 24.) |